Fence



(No Model.) W. A. BRYANT.

FENCE.

No. 391,353. Patented 001:. I6, 1888.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM A. BRYANT, OF NOTASULGA, ALABAMA.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part oi Letters Patent No. 391,353, dated October 16, 1888.

Application filed Juy 20, 1888. Serial No. 280,552.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. BRYANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Notasulga, in the county of Macon and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a portion of my improved portable fence erected; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view of the adja cent parts of adjacent panels, showing the method of detachably attaching them together, whereby they unitally brace each other; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the upper ends of two adjacent posts, showing the manner of secur ing them together; Fig. 4, a side elevation of the same; Fig. 5, a detail perspective view of the device for securing the tops of adjacent posts together, and Fig. 6 a perspective view showing a slightly-modified form of the fastening device shown in Fig. 5.

The invention is designed to provide an extremely cheap and simple portable farm-fence, that will be very lightand yet possess sufficient strength and firmness to resist the action of strong winds and confined animals, as will be more fully hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the panels of the fence, each of which consists, essentially, of two or more horizontal rails, 13 B, mortised into two vertical end posts, 0 O, and horizontal fence-wires (plain or barbed) stretched from post to post and secured thereto. The contiguous vertical faces of the adjacent posts of the adjacent panels are plain or flat and are adapted to fit closely together. The posts are all provided with tenons or pins a at their lower ends, which fit in suitable sockets in base-blocks D, and are held removably therein by means of nails or pins 1), the said base-blocks being anchored to the ground by means of pegs or stakes 0, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper end of each of the posts is beveled 0E or tapered upon one (No model.)

side, as shown at d, so that when the posts are placed together, as shown, the beveled or inclined sides will be directly opposite each other. posts is a vertical slot, 6, adapted to receive the gravitating connecting bar or link E,which is provided with inclined lugs g g at its ends, these lugs being adapted to fit against and bear upon the inclined faces of the posts. Thus it will be seen that when the link is dropped or forced into the slots in the upper ends of the adjacent posts the lugs will fit closely against the beveled faces of the same and serve to draw and secure them closely together. By thus securing the posts together at their upper and lower ends and bringing their contiguous faces into close cont-act it is evident that the panels of the fence will be firmly braced and secured together and kept in alignment. The panels of the fence may be separated by simply removing the connecting-link E and one of the pins or nails b in the base-blocks.

In lieu of the link E, provided with lugs, I may use the loop E (shown in Fig. 6) to secure the tops of the adjacent posts together. In this case it will be evident that the posts will not have to be slotted.

Having thus full described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the adjacent posts B, beveled upon one side at their upper ends, as at d, and vertically slotted at e, a bar, E, inserted in the said slots 6 and provided with beveled lugs g g at its ends, these lugs hearing upon the inclined or beveled faces of the posts and serving to draw them together, and means for securing the lower ends of the posts together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\VILLIAM A. BRYANT.

\Vitnesses:

Y. L. WALL, M. A. VARE.

Out in the upper beveled ends of the U 

